COLOMBO, May 28: Sri Lanka's sports minister on Monday extended Asantha de Mel's term as chairman of cricket selectors despite a call from the governing board of the sport for his dismissal.

“I have appointed the same committee for another two months with Asantha as the chief selector,” Gamini Lokuge said.

De Mel, first appointed to the job in April 2006, was named chief selector for two more months until the end of Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka in July.

Relations between Sri Lanka Cricket and de Mel worsened after he criticised the management last week for agreeing to play a One-day International series in the heat of Abu Dhabi so soon after the World Cup.

Sri Lanka's selectors are appointed by the sports ministry and answerable only to the minister.

Sri Lanka Cricket recommends suitable candidates, but de Mel was not on its list.

The existing committee is made up of Asantha de Mel, Don Anurasiri, Shabeer Asgerali and Amal Silva.—AFP